Coates Lock On The Pocklington Canal - Bielby, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 53.846 W 000° 48.378
30U E 644138 N 5974339
This lock is on the un-navigable section of the Pocklington Canal, but is accessible from the tow path that is still open along the whole length of the canal.
Waymark Code: WM13ANK
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/27/2020
Views: 0
The Canal
"The Pocklington Canal runs for 9.5 miles between East Cottingwith and Canal Head at Pocklington. The Pocklington Canal Amenity Society have restored the section from the River Derwent to the Melbourne Arm back to navigation, approximately half the length of the canal. Together with the Amenity Society, we're currently working to extend the navigation to Bielby Arm, which will increase the navigable section by around two miles.
The majority of the canal is designated as SSSI for its wildlife value, with the lower reaches lying within the Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve. The towpath that runs along the canal is a great place for spotting the brilliant blue flash of a kingfisher or dragonflies darting above the reeds.
The canal architecture also adds interest to the scenery, with distinctive swing bridges, classic hump-backed bridges and restored and unrestored locks.
The Pocklington Canal history
The canal was one of the last to be built, and was promoted by prosperous local farmers who sought more effective means of transporting their goods to the fast-growing towns of West Yorkshire. Its Act was passed in 1815, and it opened three years later.
The Pocklington is one of the few canals in Britain that were completed for less than the original estimated cost, costing only £32,695. Coal, lime, fertiliser and industrial goods were carried to Pocklington, and agricultural produce was sent out to the West Riding.
It was taken over by the York & North Midlands Railway in 1848, after just thirty years of operation. During the middle part of the last century the canal fell into disuse and became unnavigable. Despite plans in the 1950s to turn it into a dumping ground for chalk sludge, the canal survived, thanks to an active restoration group."
link
The Lock
This lock stands next to a road bridge over the canal made from the same brickwork, both of which have been renovated. The lock gates on this canal had an unusual wheel mechanism and this has been replicated.
This part of the canal is in water but is not part of the navigable section. The lock looks like the restoration work would make it useable if the canal is extended to here.
The lock is a Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
Canal lock. 1818, by George Leather. For the Pocklington Canal Company. Red brick and ashlar with gritstone coping. Rectangular lock chamber with splay to north (high level) and stepped sides to south."
link
An information board next to the lock has the following information.
How was it built?
The bridge and nearby lock were built in 1817 using bricks supplied by the Brittain family from Newport on the Market Weighton Canal about 17 miles away.
Look closely at the lock it also has stone in the chamber wall. This is unusual and may have been a way of using up left over stone from another project. This was replicated during building work of 1995.